Dispenser



Sept. 9, 1941,; M. E. MUTCHLER DISPENSER Filed Dec. 31, 1958 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1941 DISPENSER Maurice E. Mutchler, Kenmore, N. Y.; Hilda M. Mutchler administratrix of said Maurice E.

Mutchler, deceased Application December 31, 1938, Serial No. 248,891

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in dispensers for candy discs and the like and, although not necessarily limited to such use, is characterized by features which adapt it particularly for use in connection with candy discs of the kind which are packaged in rolls.

One object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which is so designed that the candy discs may be retained in their original wrapping until removed for use, whereby to maintain their freshness, prevent them from melting or otherwise deteriorating and avoid direct contact between them and the walls of the dispenser.

A further object is to provide a dispenser which is simple and inexpensive in design and which may be manipulated with facility and a minimum of effort.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is side elevational view, partially in section, of a dispenser embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken along line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along line 33 of Figure 2. I

Figure 4 is a detail view of the knife.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the knife shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is also an elevational view and is taken along line 88 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a detail view of the knife shown in Figure '7.

The dispenser is adapted to be carried in a pocket or it may, if desired, be mounted upon a suitable support in a conveniently accessible position. As illustrated in Figure 1, it includes a tubular body H], the bottom: of which is open and the top of which is closed by a cap ll. At its upper end the body I is formed or provided with an inwardly extending lip [2 against which one end of a roll of discs I3 is arranged, the wrapper of the latter being indicated at 14. The roll of discs is inserted in the body Ill through the open end and it is held against the lip [2 by a rubber band I which fits in an annular groove 16 and which extends through slots ll formed at the bottom of the'groove to frictionally engage the wrapper H! as best shown in Figure 3.

Means is provided whereby when a roll of discs occupies the position described the wrapper may be cut to facilitate separation and withdrawal of the topmost disc from the dispenser without mutilating or removing the portion of the wrapper surrounding the adjacent and lower discs. The said means includes a knife H! which is movable lengthwise through openings 19 formed in opposite sides of the body ID, the said openings dividing the body into spaced sections which are joined by blocks 20. Guideways 2| are formed in the said blocks for the knife. The latter, as best shown in Figure 4, is formed with a central opening 22 through which the roll of discs extends, the edge defining the opening being sharpened at one side, as indicated at 23, to provide a blade portion. The knife normally occupies the position shown in Figure 1. The roll of discs, therefore, may be inserted in the dispenser and be adjusted therein in the manner described.

In order to effect movement of the knife 18 in a direction which will cause the blade portion 23 to enter the roll between the top disc and the adjacent disc and thereby cut the wrapper, a lever 24 is pivotally connected to a cross pin 25 carried by the shank of the knife. The upper end of the lever fits in a cut-away portion 26 (Figure 4) of the shank and is formed with an elongated slot 21 to accommodate the cross pin, the lower end of the lever 24 being pivotally mounted upon a pin 28 and being formed or provided with an extension 29. The latter normally occupies the position shown in Figure 1. When it is moved downwardly to the position illus- .trated in Figure 3, the blade portion of the knife 18 is caused to enter between the top disc and the adjacent disc. As this takes place, the portion of the wrapper surrounding the top disc is cut and the disc is rocked so that its forward edge is raised slightly. When the cap is open, therefore, it may be readily grasped and withdrawn from the dispenser. Preferably the side walls of the body In are cut away at opposite sides as indicated at 33 to provide for facility in grasping the disc. Upon withdrawal of a disc in the manner described the extension 29 is actuated to restore the knife to its normal position and the roll is adjusted to again move its upper end against the lip l2, it being understood that the portion of the wrapper which surrounds the topmost disc is preferably removed with the latter in order to insure proper operation of the dispenser.

The modified form of dispenser illustrated in Figure 5 is designed particularly for use in connection with candy discs of the kind formed with central openings. In this embodiment the lower end of the body is closed by a removable member 3|. The latter carries a stem 32 upon which a roll of discs of the character described is arranged, a follower 33 which is slidable along the said stem being acted upon by a spring 34 to urge the upper end of the roll against a lip 35.

When a roll of discs occupies the position described a knife 36 may be actuated to cut the wrapper between the topmost disc and the adjacent disc to facilitate withdrawal of the former. The knife 35 is adapted to be moved lengthwise to accomplish this and is mounted in substantially the same manner as the knife illustrated in Figure 1. In this embodiment, however, means is provided whereby the movement of the cap, indicated at 37, is utilized to actuate the knife. To this end the cap carries a tail-piece 33 which is slotted as at 33 to accommodate a pin 4i) carried by the shank of the knife, the blade portion of' the knife being arcuate and being indicated at 4|. The parts are so designed that when the cap 3'! is closed (see dotted-line position in Figure the knife 36 is held in a retracted position. When the knife occupies this position the roll of discs is free to move under the influence of the spring 34 so that its upper end abuts the lip 35.

When it is desired to withdraw a disc from the dispenser the cap is opened. As this takes place the walls of the slot 38 act against the pin 40 to move the knife 35 forward, thereby causing its blade portion to enter between the two top discs. The portion of the wrapper enclosing the top disc is thus cut and the disc is rocked upon one edge to cause the opposite edge to be partially expelled. It may thereupon be removed from the dispenser. Thereafter, as the cap is closed the knife 36 is moved out of the path of the roll and the latter moves upwardly, under the influence of the spring 34, until its upper end again comes into contact with the lip 35. The dispenser is thus conditioned so that when the cap is again opened another disc may be removed.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9 the knife, indicated at 42, as in the embodiment shown in Figure 5, is adapted to be actuated by the cap as the latter is opened. For this purpose a tail-piece 43 which is carried by the cap is formed with gear teeth M. The latter mesh with a series of perforations 45 which are formed in the shank portion of the knifawhereby the pivotal movement of the cap is translated into a lengthwise movement of the knife. In this instance the guideways for the knife ar formed in an element 15, the shank portion of the knife riding upon a shoulder ll thereof. Thus it will be apparent that as the cap is moved to an open position the knife i2 is moved forward as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 7. The blade portion #38 thereof is thereby caused to enter between the two top discs to move the up er one partially out of the dispenser as the portion of the wrapper surrounding it is cut. When the topmost disc is removed and the cap closed the knife is retracted to a position which will enable the roll of discs to be moved upwardly as described, heretofore, to a position which will enable the operations described to be repeated by again opening the cap.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the various embodiments illustrated have the advantage that removal of the discs from the roll in which they are wrapped is facilitated. At the same time the discs are maintained in a fresh condition and out of contact with the walls of the dispenser as the removal of the wrapper in the manner described prevents exposing of the discs which are to remain in the dispenser. A further advantage obtained is that the knife may be actuated with a minimum of effort.

I claim as my invention:

1. A dispenser for packaged candy discs or the like including a body in which the discs are arranged in their wrapper, said body being formed with an outlet, a closure member for said outlet mounted upon said body and movable to open and closed positions, a knife for cutting said wrapper to enable a disc to be withdrawn through said outlet and means connecting said closure member and knife, whereby the former actuates said knife as it is moved to its open position.

2. A dispenser for packaged candy discs or the like including a body in which the discs are arranged in their wrapper, said body being formed with an outlet, a knife which is movable to out said wrapper to enable a disc to be withdrawn through said outlet, a closure member for said outlet pivotally mounted upon said body and movable to open and closed positions, said closure member carrying a tail-piece a d means connecting said tail-piece and knife, whereby the former actuates said knife as the closure member is moved to its open position,

3. A dispenser for packaged candy discs or the like including a body in which the discs are arranged in their wrapper, said body being formed with an outlet, a knife which is movable to out said wrapper to enable a disc to be withdrawn through said outlet and which is formed with a series of teeth and a pivoted closure member for said outlet, said closure member having a tailpiece which is formed to provide teeth which mesh with those on said knife, whereby the movement of said closure member is utilized to actuate said knife.

4. A dispenser for candy discs or the like including a body in which the discs are arranged one upon the other, said body being formed with an outlet, a stop adjacent said outlet against which the leading disc abuts, a closure member for said outlet which is mounted upon said body and which is movable to open and closed positions, a knife which is movable between said last named disc and the adjacent disc to facilitate withdrawal of the former through said outlet and means connecting said closure member and knife, whereby the former actuates said knife as it is opened.

MAURICE E. MUTCHLER. 

